Page 2 - susmintextbook

Unit I - Aspire to Win
accept. I was eleven years old then. Achrekar Sir, as I
refer to him, started playing cricket at the age of eleven
in 1943, which is the age I was when I went to him for
the first time.

I had never batted in the nets before and felt
somewhat overawed with so many people around. When
I was asked to bat, I was not at all comfortable. With Sir
watching me so closely, I failed to make an impact. Sir
called Ajit aside and informed him that I was perhaps 3. What was Achrekar Sir's
too young to make the camp and suggested that he first impression of
Sachin?
should bring me back when I was a little older. My
induction into the Mumbai cricket circuit could have ..….………..........…………..
ended in failure -- but for Ajit's insistence. Having seen ..….………..........…………..
me play in the colony, Ajit knew I was capable of
performing far better than I had done in front of
Achrekar Sir. He explained that I was nervous and
asked Sir to give me one more opportunity. However,
he suggested that while doing so, Sir should pretend 4. What was the role of
to go away and then watch from a distance. Sir agreed. Ajith in Sachin's
Before long, I was asked to bat again and, without Sir's induction into the
trained eyes scrutinizing me -- or so I thought, I felt Mumbai cricket circuit?
more at ease and soon started to hit the ball well. This ..….………..........…………..
time, Sir agreed to let me join the camp. I was delighted ..….………..........…………..
and I must say it was an opportunity that transformed
my life.
The camp involved a session every morning and
evening at Shivaji Park. I would practise between 7.30 5. Why did Sachin feel that
the schedule of the
am and 10.30 am in the morning. Then I'd come back camp was 'rigorous'?
in the afternoon and practise till late evening. The ..….………..........…………..
schedule was rigorous and I would be exhausted by
the end of the day. Travelling to Shivaji Park took forty ..….………..........…………..
minutes from my house in Bandra and I had to catch
an early morning bus to make it on time. For the first 6. What served Sachin as a
few days, Ajit accompanied me, to get me used to the very personal coaching
routine. During the bus journeys, he would talk to me manual?
about the nuances of batting, and I always enjoyed ..….………..........…………..
these conversations a lot. In fact, the one thing that I ..….………..........…………..
have kept with me all my career is a note that Ajit gave
me containing some thoughts about batting. It served
as a very personal coaching manual.
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